EDF plans to extend the life of nuclear units it operates in Britain

In response to the energy crisis Europe has faced in recent years, some countries have begun to change their stance on nuclear energy. In addition to plans to build new units, the focus is primarily on extending the operating lives of existing ones. French energy company EDF is also planning to take this step for the nuclear units it operates in the United Kingdom.

EDF announced plans, according to Reuters, to extend the operation of its nuclear units in Britain, as well as make further investments. Additional investment of 1.3 billion pounds in the operating units is intended to maintain their safe operation and keep generation at its current level. The United Kingdom would thus join countries such as France, Sweden and Belgium, which are also planning to extend the operation of their units.

EDF operates a total of five nuclear power stations in Great Britain with a combined installed capacity of 6 GW. The company also manages three stations that are currently being decommissioned. Last year, British nuclear power stations generated 37.3 TWh.

Ageing units are nearing the end of their lives

Most of the operating units, which use advanced gas-cooled reactor (AGR) technology, date from the 1970s and 1980s. EDF intends to decide by the end of the year whether to extend their operating lives, but the extensions must first be approved by the regulator. Last year, according to Reuters, EDF extended the operation of two of them, Hartlepool and Heysham 1, by two years, to 2026.

Sizewell B, which has a single pressurised water reactor, was commissioned in 1995, making it younger than the other units. EDF is also examining options for extending its operation beyond the currently projected year of 2035.

"Looking ahead, our aim is to keep the four power stations with AGR units operating for as long as possible and extend the operation of Sizewell B by a further 20 years, to 2055," said Mark Hartley, director of nuclear operations at EDF.

As for EDF's total investment, with the newly announced funding, the total amount that EDF has invested and will invest in its operating British nuclear units since 2009 will reach 9 billion pounds.